Automatic phonograph



Aug. 1, 1944. P. F. WILBER 2,354,899

AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPH Filed May 51, 1941 1:5 sheets-sheet 1 1944. P. F. WILBER 2,354,899

AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPH Filed May 31 1941 13 Sheets-Sheet 2 8- 1, 1944- P. F. WILBER ,3

AU TOMATIC PHONOGRAPH l3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 31 1941 Aug; 1944 P. F. WILBER 2,354,899

AUTOMAT I C PHONOGRAPH Filed May 31 1941 13 Shee ts-Sheet 5 Aug- 1, 194 P. F. WlLBER 2,354,899

Aug. 1, 1944. v P. F. WILBER ,3

AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPH Filed May 31 1941 13 SheetsSheet '7 Aug. 1, 1944. P. F. WILBER 2,354,899

AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPH Filed May 51, 1941 13 Sheets-Sheet s Inn.

Aug. 1, 1944. P. F. WILBER 2,354,899

AUTOMATIC PHQNQGRAPH Filed May 31 1941 13 Sheets-Sheet l0 A g- 1, 1944. P. F. WILBER 2,354,899

AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPH Filed May 31 1941 15 Sheets-Sheet ll 1, 1944- w P. F. WILBER 2,354,899

AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPH Filed May 51 1941 13 Sheets-Sheet 12 Aug. 1, 1944. w 2,354,899

AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPH l3 Sheets-Sheet 13 Filed May 31 1941 an 320 330 34a 55a 56a Patented Aug. 1, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPH Paul F. Wilber, Richland, N. Y. Application May 31, 1941, Serial No. 395,974

22 Claims.-

This invention relates to automatic phonographs and has for its principal object the provision of an improved automatic phonograph which will play both sides of a repertoire of double-sided records.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved phonograph of this type which will play mixed records of different conventional sizes, or records of any one conventional size.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved simplified phonograph of this general type which plays one side of a record, the other side of the same record, and then plays successive records in the same manner.

A further object of the invention is to provide a simple phonograph of this type which contains few parts and which can be economically manufactured.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved phonograph of this type which can be very easily loaded and unloaded, the stack of records to be played being merely placed as a stack in a magazine, and the played records being likewise readily removable as a stack.

Other objects, advantages and capabilities will appear from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved phonograph with the transporting frame in position to engage a record in the magazine and the discarding frame in its momentary operative position to discard a record into the discard magazine.

Figure 2 is a front elevational view with the mechanism in the relation shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the phonograph with the transporting frame in the position it occupies during the playing of the first side of the record.

Figure 4 is a corresponding front elevation.

Figure 5 is a plan view of the phonograph with the transporting frame in the vertical position into which it moves after the playing of the first record.

Figure 6 is a corresponding front elevational view.

Figure 7 is a plan view of the phonograph showing the transporting frame in the position into which it moves before returning the record to the turntable for the playing of the other side.

Figure 8 is a corresponding front elevation.

Figure 9 is a plan view of the phonograph, the transporting frame being shown in the position it occupies during the'playing of the second side of the record.

Figure 10 is a corresponding side elevation of the phonograph as viewed from the right. This view shows the transporting frame in full lines in the position it occupies during the playing of the second side of the record, the position of the transporting frame when dropping the record onto the turntable being shown in dot-and-dash lines.

Figure 11 is a side elevation as viewed from the right, showing the phonograph in the same relation as in Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 12 is a sectional detail of part of the transporting frame, the section being taken on the line I2--l2 of Figure 5, and the frame being shown engaging a smaller size record.

Figure 13 is a similar view showing the transporting frame engaging a larger size record.

Figure 14 is a perspective view of the latching member carried by the transporting frame.

Figure 15 is an inverted plan view showing the mechanism beneath the motor board in the relation it occupies during the playing of the first side of the record.

Figure 16 is a similar view showing the mechanism in the relation it occupies during the playing of the second side of the record.

Figure 1'7 is a sectional elevation of the phonograph taken on the line ||-l'l of Figure 15.

Figure 18 is a fragmentary sectional plan showing the player arm cam and associated elements, the section being taken on the line Iii-l8 of Figure 17.

Figure 19 is a sectional plan of the lower cam, the section being taken on the line lB-IB of Figure 17.

Figure 20 is a sectional detail taken on the line 20-40 of Figure 3.

Figure 21 is a sectional detail, the section being taken on the line 2l2l of Figure 20.

Figure 22 is an expanded diagrammatic view of the various cams showing the manner in which they cooperate to effect the movements of the phonograph mechanism, and

Figure 23 is a wiring diagram.

For a more complete understanding of the invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawings, the parts in the several views thereof being indicated by corresponding reference numerals.

In order to facilitate understanding of the machine as a whole, before describing the mechanical features in detail, I give a short description of the general operation of the automatic phonograph.

The records to be played are placed as a stack in a magazine I constitutedby two spaced supports II and an upper support ll against which the stack rests. As shown in Figure 2, they may be records of a plurality of conventional sizes,

for example ten and twelve inch records.

The innermost record is gripped by a transporting frame l2 in the position shown in Figures l and 2. This frame then pivots about a horizontal axis so as to place the record on the turntable I3. The frame i2 is arranged so as to release the record and then pass the turntable l3 into the position in which it is shown in'Figures 3 and 4. When the record is thus placed and the player arm l4 moves inwardly to the initial playing position of the record on the tumtable, the record is reproduced. I

At the end of the reproduction of the record, the position, or the retrograde movement, of the player arm l4 starts the record-changing mechanism, with the result that the frame [2 swings upwardly about its horizontal axis to a vertical or substantially vertical position as shown in Figures 5 and 6. The frame l2 then swings about an offset vertical axis located at position l5 on Figure 1 and consequently the record is moved from one side of the turntable to another side thereof, that is, the frame I2 is swung from its position in Figures 5 and 6 into its position shown in Figures 7 and 8.

The frame l2 now swings downwardly about its horizontal axis in the opposite direction, which presents the record to the turntable in reverse position, that is, with the unplayed -side upwards. When the frame I: approaches the turntable, as shown in dot-and-dash lines in Figure 10, its gripping means is released and the record is allowed to fall onto the table with its central opening passing over the turntable spindle I 6. Thereupon the frame I2 swings upwardly about its horizontal axis into a position shown in full lines in Figures 9 and 10.

The player arm l4 moves inwardly into the initial playing position of the record and the record is reproduced. Consequently, both sides of the record are reproduced in sequence. At the end of the playing of the record, the recordchangingmechanism again resumes operation. the player arm I4 is moved outwardly into the position shown in Figure 1, the frame l2 moves upwardly to a vertical or substantially vertical position and it is rotated about its vertical axis l5 towards the position shown in Figure 1.

The record on the turntable is then e evated by a discardframe l1 and discharged thereby into a discard magazine i8 as best shown in Figure 11. The discard frame I I promptly moves down to a position below the turntable and it remains in this position until both sides of the next record have been reproduced.

It may here be noted that the frame I2 is provided with gripping means which enable a ten or twelve inch record to be picked up from the magazine ill with the center opening in the same relation thereto. The gripping means comprises a movable gripping member and means are associated with this gripping member to insure the inward movement of the player arm 14 to correct initial playing position for a ten or twelve inch record.

It is of course to be understood that the invention is not intended to be limited to ten and twelve inch records. Such records are referred to only because they are the two sizes which are conventional at the present time.

The machine may be equally well adapted for playing records of any definite size.

Having thus given a brief description of the general operation of the phonograph, I will now describe minutely the various elements and mechanisms which are used in this embodiment of the invention to attain the results above referred to.

The reference numeral 26 designates a motor board which may be supported in a'cabinet in well know nmanner. On the under side of the motor board is mounted an electric motor 26 which is controlled by a switch 21. The motor drives a shaft 26 which projects upwardly through a suitable opening in the motor board. At its upper end the shaft 28 carries a friction roller 26 which operatively engages the inner side of the peripheral flange of the turntable II.

The turntable is rigidly carried on the'turntable spindle l6 which extends downwardly through an opening in the motor board 25. The

lower end 3| of the spindle I6 is supported in a suitable bearing on a bracket 32 rigidly supported on the underside of themotor board 25.

The spindle l6 has rigidly mounted thereon a pinion 33 which meshes with an idler pinion 34. The idler pinion is rotatably mounted on a shaft 35 also carried by the bracket 32. The idler pinion 34 meshes with the pinion 36 which is freely rotatable on a spindle 31 also mounted on the bracket 32.

The pinion 36 is adapted to mesh with the peripheral teeth on a combined mutilated gear and cam wheel 38. The mutilated gear and cam wheel 38 is rotatably mounted on a shaft 36 which is supported on the bracket 32 and on the motor board 25 as best seen in Figure 17. A cam wheel 40 is also rotatably mounted on the shaft 39 below the combined mutilated gear and cam wheel 36. x

The lower boss of the combined mutilated gear and cam wheel is provided with outwardly directed teeth to constitute a pinion 4|. Upon the upper surface of the cam wheel 40 is an internal gear 42 which is twice the efiective diameter of the pinion 4|. The pinion 4| and the inner gear 42 are operatively connected by idler pinions 43 which are mounted upon a yoke member 44 which forms part of the bracket 32 (Figure 19).

It will thus be readily understood that when the combined mutilated gear and cam wheel 36 makes one revolution, the cam wheel 40 makes half a revolution.

The combined mutilated gear and cam wheel 38 is mutilated in that it lacks peripheral teeth at the position 45. When the gap 45 is adjacent the pinion 36 (as shown in Figures 15 and 16) the turntable and the pinions 33, 34 and 36 can rotate freelywithout driving the combined mutilated gear and cam wheel 38 or the cam wheel 40.

When the peripheral teeth of the gear 38 are brought into mesh with the pinion 36, the gear 36 will be given one revolution and the cam wheel 40 will be given half a revolution. At the end of one revolution of the wheel 38, the teeth gap 45 will again be adjacent the teeth 36 and the driving will be terminated until the wheel 38 is given an independent movement to bring its peripheral teeth into mesh with the pinion 36.

Below the teeth which engage the peripheral teeth of the wheel 38, the pinion 36 is provided with a small number of relatively large teeth 46 shown in the present embodiment of the invention as three in number. The teeth 46 are adapted to engage the outer extremity of a dog 41 which is pivotally mounted on the under side of the wheel 38 as best shown in Figure 1'1.

During the playing of a record, the dog 41 is held in its full line position, as shown in Figure 17, by means of a latch 48. This latch engages a portion 48 of the dog 41 which projects upwardly through a radial opening 58 in the wheel 38.

When the latch 48 is removed from latching position in a manner which will hereinafter be described, the dog 41 falls by gravity into the dotted-line position shown in Figure 17. In this position the outer end of the dog 41 is engaged by one of the large teeth 45 so that the wheel 38 is rotated to a slight extent, bringing its peripheral teeth into mesh with the cooperating teeth of the pinion 35.

As a result of this engagement, the wheel 35 is given one rotation and then it stops because, during this rotation, the dog 41 is elevated into its full line position, shown in Figure 17, and is held in this position by the latch member 48. It will be noted that in this full line position the dog 41 is out of the path of the teeth 45.

It may be noted that the wheel 38 is held in this inoperative position by means of a roller which is carried on a lever 52. The lever 52 is biassed by a spring 53 so as to force the roller 5| into a recess 54 in a peripheral flange 55 of the wheel 38 above the peripheral teeth of this wheel.

The player arm i4 is connected by a horizontal pivot 55 to an arm 51 carried at the upper end of a sleeve 58. The arm 51 extends from the sleeve 58 away from the pickup. The sleeve 58 has a bearing in the vertical standard 58 rigidly mounted on the motor board 25. At its lower end the sleeve 58 has rigidly mounted thereon an arm 58. The .boss of the arm 58 and the arm 51 hold the sleeve 58 against vertical movement.

A rod 51 extends through the sleeve 58, this rod being supported on a cam 52 on the upper surface of the wheel 38. It will readily be understood that when the cam 52 moves the rod 5| upwardly, the rod displaces the player arm l4 upwardly about its axis 55 so that the needle is elevated away from the record. When a record is being played. rod 5| rests on the lower dwell 53 of the cam 52 so that the player arm as shown in Figure 1'7.

During the playing of a record, the gap 45 of the wheel 38 is opposite the pinion 35. When the wheel 38 is moved into mesh with the pinion 35, the wheel 38 is driven in the counterclockwise direction and a rise 54 on the cam52 passes under the rod 5| so as to elevate the player arm i4 away from the record.

As the wheels 38 approaches the end of its rotation, a fall on the cam 52 passes under the rod 5| so that this rod moves downwardly into engagement with the low dwell 53 thus permitting the player arm i4 to move downwardly and brin its needle into engagement with the record,

The arm 58 being rigidly mounted on the sleeve 58, moves with the player arm l4 during its horizontal or translational movements, including the movement of the player arm resulting from the engagement of its needle with the record. The arm 58 carries a depending pin 55 which is adapted to engage a cam 51 formed on the upper surface of the cam wheel 38.

When a recording has been completely reproduced and the cam wheel 38 begins its single revolution, the pin 55 is in an inward position, for example the position shown in dash-and-dotted lines in Figure 18.

I4 is free to engage the record.

direction as shown in Figure 18, a forward portion of the cam 51 engages the pin 55 and swings the pin 55, the arm 58 and player arm |4 outwardly in counterclockwise direction until the player arm is located in an outward position clear of the tumtable and clear of the largest record which may be on the turntable. It may be noted that before this outward movement begins, the player arm l4 has been elevated from the record by the action of the cam rise 54 of the cam 52 upon the rod 5|.

The main portion of the cam 51 is circular in form so that the player arm is maintained in this clear position for the greater part of the rotation of the cam wheel 38. During this time, the recordchanging movements of the frame l2 occur. After the record is placed upon the turntable and the rest of the mechanism is ready for its reproduction, the cam 51 clears the pin 55 and permits the inward movement of the player arm by means which will now be described.

Upon the under side of the motor board 25, and adjacent the arm 58, is pivotally mounted an arm 58 which is located at a lower level than the arm 58. Upon the upper surface of the arm 58 is mounted a slight spring 18 which projects through an abutment member 1|. The abutment member 1| is a bent-up portion of the arm 58 as is shown in Figure 18. The arm 58 is biassed inwardly by means of a strong spring 12 which is connected to the arm 58 and to the under side of the motor board 25.

The pin 55 engages the spring 18 and abutment member 1| and consequently when the arm 58 is thrown outwardly to throw the player arm l4 clear of any record on the turntable, the pin 55 forces the arm 58 outwardly against the tension of the strong sprin 12. When the arcuate portion 13 of the cam 51 moves past the pin 55, the spring 12 moves the arm 58 inwardly, keeping the pin 55 against portion 13 of the cam 51.

When the cam 51 clears the pin 55; this pin is engaged by the arcuate arm 14 of a lever 15 which is pivotally mounted on the upper surface of the wheel 38. The arcuate arm 14 conforms generally to the circular shape of the wheel 38. The lever 15 is biassed towards its position in Figure 18 by means of a weak spring 15 which normally positions the lever 15 against a stop 11.

As the wheel 38 rotates in the counterclockwise The spring 12 being much stronger than the spring 15, the arm 68 forces the arm 58 and the pin inwardly, the pin 55 deflecting the lever 15 in the clockwise direction from its position in Figure 18. The inward movement of the arm 58 under the action of the spring 12 continues until the arm 58 is arrested by its engagement with a stop 18. When this occurs, the pin 55 is in engagement with the arcuate arm 14 of the lever 15 and while it is thus engaged, the spring 15 forces the pin 55 against the spring 18 and against the abutment member 1| of the arm 58, the spring 15 being stronger or more effective than the very weak spring 18.

While the arcuate arm 14 still engages the pin 55, the fall 55 of the cam 52 passes under the rod 5| so that the player arm is caused to descend so as to bring the needle into engagement with the record, preferably a very short distance beyond the initial groove thereof. After this descent, the arcuate arm 14 moves past the pin 55 and thereupon the spring 18 becomes effective to push the pin 55, the arm 58 and the player arm i4 inwardly with a very sl ght force, thus bringingl the needle into the initial groove of the recor The arm 58 is provided with shoulders 18 and the event that reverse 88 adapted to engage the stop 18 to arrest the arm 68 and consequently the player arm I4 at appropriate positions for descent upon the outer edges of records of difl'erent sizes. Thus, in its full line position, shown in Figure 18, the stop 18 is adapted to engage the shoulder 18 to locate the player arm, for playing of a ten-inch record. If the-stop is in the dot-and-dash position shown in Figure 18, it will be engaged by the shoulder 88 so that the player arm is moved inwardly only into a position for descent of its needle upon the outer edge of a twelveinch record. The means for controlling the position of the stop 18 will be hereinafter described.

The latch 48 is mounted by means of a pivot 8I on the wheel .88 as shown in Figure 18. The latch 48 is biassed towards latching position and towards an abutment member 82 by means of a spring 83. The end of the latch lever 48 remote from the dog 41 is bent substantially at right angles and carries a dog 84 which is adapted to cooperate with a serrated member 85 carried by the arm 68. The dog 84 is biassed into its position in Figure 18 by means 01 a spring 86.

It will readily be understood that as the arm 88 moves inwardly during the playing of a record, the serrated member 85 engages the dog 84. In movement is imparted to the player arm, for example by means of an eccentric end groove on the record, the dog 84 is swung in clockwise direction from its position in Figure 18, with the result that the latch 48 is likewise swung in clockwise direction and the dog 41 is released so that it drops into operative engagement with the teeth 48 to initiate one rotation of the wheel 88. The latched and unlatched positions of the dog 41 are shown in full and phantom lines on Fig. 17.

The arm 88 carries an adjustable abutment member 81 which is adapted to engage a downtumed lip portion 88 on the latch member 48 adjacent the dog 84. When the player arm is moved into a predetermined position on the record, the abutment'member 81 engages the abut ment member 88 and the latch member 48 is swung in clockwise direction, releasing the dog.

41 to initiate one revolution of the wheel 88.

On its under side, the arm 68 carries a depending flange 88 which is adapted to engage the upwardly projecting end of the dog 41 and move it radially inwardly so that it is again latched by the latch lever 48. This latching occurs when the wheel 38 has made half a revolution from its normal stationary position. Consequently, when the gap 45 of the wheel 38 again arrives opposite the pinion 35, the dog 41 is held out of contact with the large teeth 48 carried by this pinion.

The frame I2 is suitably in the form of a ring having an extension 88 (Figure 3) in the general plane of the ring. This extension is provided with a pair of apertured lugs 9| which receive a spindle 82. The spindle 92 is rigidly connected to the lugs 8|. The axis of the spindle lies some distance to one side of the annular part of the frame I2 asbest seen in Figure 3. As also best seen in this figure, a line at right angles to the axis located approximately between the two lugs 8i is substantially tangential to the annular part of the frame.

At one end, the spindle 82 carries a pinion 88 which is likewise rigidly secured to the spindle 82. The spindle 82 is rotatably supported by means of lugs 84 which are integrally mounted on a collar 85. This collar, best seen in Figure 20, is rotatably mounted on the motor board 25 by means of a boss 88 rigidly mounted on the motor board. The collar 85 is provided with a shoulder which rests upon the upper end of the boss 85. The collar 85 is held against upward displacement by means of a ring 81 secured to its lower end. the ring overlapping the under side of the boss 88.

It will thus be seen that the collar 85 is mounted for, rotation about a vertical axis. The spindle 82 is located in a horizontal position. When the frame is in the positions shown in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6, the spindle 82 is parallel to the general planes of the records in the magazine I8. When, however, theframe I2 is in its position shown' in Figures '7, 8, 9 and 10, the spindle 82 is parallel to the general planes of the records in the discard magazine I8.

The collar 85 is swung about its vertical axis to locate the spindle 82 in these two positions by means of a bar 88 which is pivotally connected by means of a pin 88 to the under side of the collar 85. The bar 88 is pivotally connected to a bar I88 which is pivotally connected by a pin IM to the under side of the motor board 25. The bar I88, at an intermediate position, carries a roller I 82 which is arranged to cooperate with an outside cam I88 and an inside cam I84 formed on the upper surface of the cam wheel 48.

When the frame I2 is in the position shown in Figures 3 and 4, that is, in the position for the playing of the first side of a record, the cams I03 and I84 have the relation to the cam roller I82 During the playing of this side of the record, the cam wheel 48 is stationary. After this record is played, the cam 48" After the second side of the record has been I played, the cam wheel 48 is rotated through another half revolution and the inner cam I84 throws the roller I 82 outwardly, swinging the bars I 88 and 88 into the position in which they are shown in Figure 15. The resultant movement of the collar 85 returns the frame I2 from its position in Figures 9 and 10 back to.its position in Figures 5 and 6.

The manner in which the frame I2 is swung around the spindle 82 between a substantially horizontal position on one side of the spindle 92 and a substantially horizontal position on the other side of said spindle, will now be described. The pinion 83 meshes with a sector I85 which is pivotally mounted by means of a pivot I86 on an extension I81 on the lug 84 which is adjacent the axis of the collar 85. The sector I85 rigidly carries an arm I88 to which is pivbtally connected the upper end of the rod I88, this upper end being bent outwardly at right angles with relation to the main length of the rod.

The rod I88 normally lies substantially in the axis of the collar 85. At its lower end, it has pivotally mounted thereon a clevis I I8 which in turn is pivotally mounted to the upper end of a The bell crank lever is pivotally mounted on a bracket I I2 on the under side of the motor board 25. The lower or downwardly directed arm of the bell crank lever III is pivotally connected to one end of a bar H3.

The other end of the bar H3 is pivotally connected to one end of a bar I I4, the other end of .which is pivotally connected by means of pin H5 theresult of the longitudinal movements of thebar H3 is to swing bell crank lever Ill and to swing the frame I2 about the axis of the spindle 92 into the various positions of the frame I2 shown in the drawings.

During the playing of the first record, the frame I2 is in the position shown in Figures 3 and 4, being located in this position by the roller H6 which is then in the position in which it is shown in Figure 15. At the end of the playing of the first side of the record, the cam wheel 48 makes half a rotation in the counterclockwise direction as viewed in Figures 15 and 16. During the first part of this rotation, the cam track I I1 is substantially arcuate and consequently the roller H6 does not move outwardly until the rise 68 on the cam 61 has swimg the player arm outwardly to its extreme position. Thereafter the roller H6 is moved out gradually until the frame I2 reaches a substantially vertical position, which position is attained after the cam wheel 48 has made approximately one quarter of a revolution from its position in Figure 15.

Shortly thereafter the roller I82 is engaged by the outer cam I03 and swung inwardly so that the frame I2 is swung around from its position in Figures 5 and 6 into its position in Figures '7 and 8. During this movement of the frame about the axis I5, the cam wheel H3 is moved further outwardly so that the frame descends through the position in which this frame is shown in Figure 9. After the swinging movement of the frame about the axis I5 is terminated, the frame I2 moves further downwardly towards the turntable into the position in which it is shown in dotand-dash lines in Figure 10.

During the continued half rotation, the roller H6 is moved inwardly to a certain extent into the position in which it is shown in Figure 16. This has the effect of reversing the movement of the frame about the axis of the pin 92 so that this frame is elevated at an angle as shown in Figures 9 and 10, sufilcient to permit the player arm I4 to move inwardly and play the record. When this condition is attained, the drive of the wheel 38 is terminated, this wheel having made a complete revolution.

Owing to the gear connection between the wheel 38 and the wheel 40, the latter makes only half a revolution and it is now in position in which it is shown in Figure 16. When the upper side or the record now on the turntable is played, the player arm I4 initiates the drive of the wheel 33 so that it makes a complete revolution and the player arm is actuated in the manner previously described by the complete rotation of the wheel 38. During that complete rotation, the cam wheel 40 makes half a revolution in the counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Figures 15 and 16 from its position in Figure 16 into its position in Figure 15.

During the initial part of such half revolution, the cam roller H6 is moved progressively outwardly, thus bringing the frame I2 into a vertical position. When it attains that position, the cam roller H5 is located opposite an enlargement or recess H8 in the cam track H1.

The roller H6 is biased into -the recess H8 by means of a coil spring H9 on the spindle 92. One end of this spring engages the under side of the frame I2. The other end is hooked so as to engage a screw I20 carried on one of the lugs 94 on the collar 95. The spring is arranged so that it tends to move the frame I2 away from the vertical into engagement with the stack of records about to be played in the manner shown in Figure 1. The spring H9 forces the-frame I2 into engagement with the outermost record of those which are to be played. It will thus be seen that the frame I2 moves into engagement with any record on the magazine I0 which remains to be played, but since it is moved in resiliently, the frame may accommodate itself to the outermost record when the magazine is full, and likewise it may accommodate itself to the other records. up to the very last one.

As best seen in Figure 2, the supports H have their upper surfaces sloped downwardly in the inward direction. At their innermost ends they are provided with upwardly directed abutment members I2I which engage the outermost record. It will readily be seen that when the outermost record is removed, the other records slide down the inclined upper surfaces of the supports H and the new outermost record engages the abutments IN.

The ring portion of the frame I2 is provided with two outwardly directed extensions I22, that is, they are directed outwardly, away from the axis defined by the spindle 92. The general location of these extensions is best seen in Figure 11. Each of these extensions I22 carries a pair of gripping members I23 and I24 located at the proper positions to locate a twelve-inch record or a ten-inch record with their centers at substantially the same position on'the frame.

Tn Figure 13 a twelve-inch record is shown being engaged by an outer gripping member I23 while in Figure 12 a ten-inch record is shown being engaged by an inner gripping member I24. The gripping members I23 and I24 are provided with inwardly directed recesses which serve to engage a gripped record and to prevent the same falling off the frame until a gripper I25 is released. The gripping members I23 and I24 do not actually grip the record. They merely cooperate with the movable gripper I25 to serve as gripping means to hold the record.

The outer gripping members I23 are rigidly mounted in the extensions I22. The inner gripping members I24 are mounted for axial movement in the extensions I22. They are biassed towards the record gripping side of the frame I2 by means of springs I26. It may here be noted that when the frame I2 is presented to a teninch record in the outermost position on the magazine III, the gripping members I24 on the extensions I 22 occupy a position slightly above the edge of the ten-inch record.

When the gripping latch I25 is actuated in the manner hereinafter to be described, the outermost record is moved upwardly slightly so that the record enters the recess in the lower gripping members I24 on the two extensions I22.

However, when the frame I2 is presented to the magazine and the outermost record is a twelveinch record, then the gripping members I23 occupy a position slightly above the outermost record, but the outer ends of the gripping members I24 engage the surface of the large outermost record and these gripping members are moved inwardly into the inoperative position shown in Figure 13.

It will be noted that when the gripping latch I25 moves the outermost record upward so as to cause its upper marginal portions to enter the recesses, of the gripping members I23-or I24, as shown in Figures 13 and 12, respectively, the lower marginal portions of the elevated record are raised clear of the abutment members I2I on the supports II so that the record is released for movement with the frame I2 away from the magazine.

The gripping latch I25 is best seen in Figures 14 and 3. This movable gripping member comprises a bell crank lever I2'I which is pivotally mounted on the extension portion 90 of the frame I2 as is best shown in Figure 3. The short end of the bell crank lever is connected to a rod I28. The long end of the bell crank lever I21 carries an elongated resilient member I29 which suitably may be made of spring stock. One end of the resilient member I29 is rigidly secured to the long arm of the bell crank lever adjacent its pivot. The remote end of the resilient member I29 is provided with an upturned lip I30 which is adapted to engage a record on the frame I2. This lip I30 is located so that it engages the record at its point which is lowest when the frame I2 is vertical.

Adjacent the lip I30 the resilient member I29 is provided with a pin I3I which is free to move in an opening in the long arm of the bell crank lever I21. It will be noted that the pin I3I is mounted on the resilient member I29 and is directed away from the resilient member I29 in a direction opposite to the position of the lip I30.

The bell crank lever I2'I may be provided with a supporting lug I32 which is directed towards the frame I2 and is adapted to engage the extension 90 and serve as an abutment for the bell crank lever I21 when the resilient member I29 is engaging the outermost record in the magazine. In its normal unlatched position, the resilient member I29 is located so that it will engage the outer surface of the outer most record on the magazine I 0, whether it be a ten-inch record or a twelveinch record, with the record-engaging lip slightly below the lowermost edge of the outermost record.

As the frame I2 moves to a greater or less degree into engagement with the outermost record, the resilient member I29 is forced towards'the frame I2 to a greater or less degree. It will be readily understood that when the gripper latch I25 is thereafter moved upwardly, the outermost record will b gripped by the lip I30, the outermost record will be lifted clear of the abutment I2I and'the outermost record will be firmly gripped on the frame I2 by the gripper I25, by one or the other pairs of the gripping members I24 or I23, depending upon whether the record grip is a ten or twelve inch record.

The rod I28 is provided with an offset end which is located in substantial alignment with the spindle 92 as best .seen in Figure 20. This offset end has a swivel connection to the bifurcated yoke I33 which is connected by a horizontal pivot to a lever I34 pivotally mounted by a horizontal axis upon 2. lug I35 carried by the collar 95 (Figure 20). The lever I34 rigidly carries an arm I36 which has a ball-and-socket connection to a vertical rod I3I.

At its lower end, the rod I3! is connected by a ball-and-socket joint to the horizontal arm of a bell crank lever I38 pivotally mounted on the bracket I I2 on the under side of the motor board 25. The depending arm of the bell crank lever I38 is connected to a bar I39 which is pivotally connected to a bar I40 adjacent one of its ends. The other end of the bar I40 is pivozalilyl supported from the motor board by a pivo Adjacent its the bar I40 point of connection to the bar I39, carries a cam roller I42 which cooperates with an outside cam I43. The bar I39 is biassed by a spring I44 so as to force the roller I42 towards the cam I43. The spring I44 tends to move the rod I3'I downwardly and tends to move the gripper I25 towards record gripping position.

During the playing of the first side of a record, the roller I42 is held inwardly towards the center of the cam wheel 40 by a dwell I45 on the cam I43 and the record gripper is in release position. After the cam wheel 40 is moved to a certain extent, the roller I42 moves into an enlargement I46 in the cam I43 and consequently the spring I44 is free to move the bar I39 to eflect gripping of the record.

After the cam 40 is rotated less than a half revolution, the roller I42 is engaged by a cam rise I41 on the cam I43 and the gripper is released for the playing of the other side of the record. During the playing of the other side of the record, the roller I42 engages the cam dwell I48, holding the gripper unlatched during the playing of the second side of the record.

After the playing of the second'side of the record, the gripper remains unlatched while the cam wheel 40 moves through a considerable angle. The roller I42 then enters an enlargement I49 in cam I43 and the spring I44 is again free to close the gripper. The gripper remains in gripped condition, holding a new record on the frame I2 until the cam wheel 40 has rotated about 142 degrees, whereupon the roller I 42 engages a cam rise I50 and the gripper is again released for the playing of the first side of the next v record during which time the roller I42 is in the position shown in Figure 15.

The bar I40 carries an extension I5I which is adapted to engage a downwardly directed pin I52 carried by bell crank lever I53 pivotally mounted on the under side of the motor board. A long arm of the bell crank lever I53 is pivotally connected to a bar I 54 which is slidably mounted on the under side of the motor board 25 by means of screws and slots. One end of the bar I54 carries the abutment I8 previously referred to and which is best shown in Figure 18.

The cam wheel 40 carries a peripheral projection I55 which is adapted to engage an arm I56 rigidly mounted on the boss of the bell crank lever I53. The arm I56 slopes to the left away from the radial direction as viewed in Figure 15. Consequently, when the projection I55 engages the arm I56, the bell crank lever is swung in the counterclockwise direction as viewed in that figure and the bar I54 is actuated so as to locate the projection I8 in the twelve-inch position.

It will readily be understood that when the gripper I25 moves to gripping position, it moves to a greater extent for a ten-inch record than it does for a twelve-inch record. When a twelveinch record is engaged, the arm II moves into engagement with the pin I52. -When, however,

* the gripper engages a ten-inch record, then the roller I42 moves to a greater extent into the enlargement I46 or I49 of the cam I43 and consequently the arm I5I swings the bell crank lever I53 so as to move the bar I54 from its set position into the full line position in Figure 18 for the playing of a ten-inch record.

The projection I55 is located so that it engages and actuates the arm I56 just before the gri per I25 engages a record on the magazine I0. Thus, as shown in Figure 16 in which the cam wheel 40 moves in counterclockwise direction, the projection I55 is adapted to engage and swing the arm I56 in the counterclockwise direction just before the roller I42 moves into the enlargement I49 in the cam I43.

Only one projection I55 is necessary and this is arranged to actuate the arm I56 before the first side of the record is played, and indeed before the record is gripped on the magazine I0 preparatory to its being placed on the turntable for the playing of its first side. As-best shown in Figure 17, the projection I55 is located on the upper part of the cam wheel 40. The pin I52 projects downwardly to engage the projection I55 but terminates so that it does not engage the lower part of the cam wheel 40.

The lower part of the cam wheel 40 carries a peripheral cam projection I51, the lower surface of which is both arcuate and beveled as best seen in Figures 15 and 17. This lower surface is adapted to engage a roller I58 carried on an arm I59 which is rigidly mounted on a shaft I60. The shaft I60 is horizontal and is rotatably supported on bearings I6I carried on the under side of the motor board 25.

The shaft I60 also rigidly carries an arm I62 which is connected by a. link I63 to an arm I64 which is rigidly mounted on one end of the shaft I64 of the discard frame I1. The shaft I64 is rotatably mounted on bearings I65 mounted on the upper side of the motor board 25, the discard frame I1 comprising two arms I66 which are rigidly mounted on the shaft I64.

The outer ends of the arms I66 are conformed as best seen in Figure 5, so that they normally lie clear of the turntable I3 and in close propinquity thereto. The turntable is of smaller diameter than the records of smallest diameter intended to be played automatically. Consequently, when the discard frame I1 swings upwardly, these records are elevated from the turntable and are deposited by the frame I1 into the discard magazine I8 as best shown in Figure 11.

The discard frame comprises two vertical frame members I61 which are provided with major supporting surfaces I68 sloping slightly outwardly from the vertical. Adjacent their lower ends the frame members I61 are provided with supporting surfaces I69 which slope downwardly slightly with respect to the horizontal, as best seen in Figure 11, so that discarded records tend to slide downwardly into engagement with the almost vertical surfaces I68.

The lower ends of the frame members provided with guides I10 which extend in continuation of the surfaces I69 into close proximity to the turntable. It will readily be understood that when the frame I1 rises, a record is elevated from the turntable and its lower edge rests against the two guides I10. As the frame I61 are I1 moves upwardly, the record rides along the guides I10 and when the frame I1 reaches an outward position slightly beyond vertical, as shown in Figure 11, the record drops into the discard magazine I8.

It will readily be understood that when both sides of a record have been played, the projection I61 on the cam wheel 40 actuates the roller I68so that the frame I1 is swung into the osition in which it is shown in Figure 11. The frame I1 is returned to initial position immediately by means of a spring "I which may be mounted on the shaft I64.

The. operation will be best understood with more particular reference to Figure 22 which is a diagrammatic showing of the cam structures of the invention. The showing of these cams is expanded relation corresponds to one complete rotation of the cam wheel 40 and two complete rotations of the cam wheel 38. The position at the left-hand side of the diagram of Figure 22 corresponds to the playing of the first record. The latch i25 is unlatched, the frame I2 is horizontal, being in the position in which it is shown in Figures 3 and 4. The frame I2 is in its first position, that being the position in which the axis of the spindle 92 is parallel to the records in'the magazine I0. The player arm is down and it is free to move .over the record.

When the first side of the record has been played and the record-changing mechanism has been tripped, the cam wheel 38 starts rotation and the pin 6I immediately rises as a result of its lower end climbing up the cam surface 64. This raises the player arm off the played record."

Shortly thereafter the pin 66 is engaged by the cam rise 68 and the player arm is swung out to its extreme position, being held out by the cam 61 during the greater part of the rotation of the cam wheel 38.

When the player arm has been swung out completely, the frame I2 starts to rise to vertical position as a result of the cooperation of the wheel II6 with the cam track II1. During the initial part of this rise, the latch I25 is engaged so that the record lifted off the turntable by the rising frame I2 after the playing of its first side, is again latched on the frame I2. The latching is of course effected by the roller I42 cooperating with the cam I43.

After the record has been latched to the frame I2 and the frame has risen to its vertical position, the cam I03 swings the roller I02 inwardly, thus swinging the frame I2 as a whole about the vertical axis I5 into its second position, that is, the position in which the axis of the spindle 92 is parallel to the records in the discard magazine I8. Duringthe latter part of the swinging movement of the frame I2, this frame is swun about the axis of the spindle 92 by cooperation of the roller H6 and the cam track II1. At the end of the swinging movement about the vertical axis I5, the frame I2 will have moved down into its dot-and-dash position in Figure 10.

It is to be noted that in moving down to this position, the center hole of the record is engaged by the turntable spindle I6. This spindle moves the engaged record to the right, as viewed in Figure 10, relative to the frame I2. This relative movement is in part due to the arcuate movement of the frame I2 about its spindle 92. This movement is suflicient to withdraw the engaged marginal portions of the record out of the recesses in the gripping members I23 and I24. This slight movement of the record upon the 

